Match box



P. S. BIXLER Dec. 29, 1936.

MATCH BOX Filed Feb. 10,, 1936 Sltomm H Patented Dec. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to match boxes and an object is to provide a match container slidable in a housing having open ends, the striking sur faces being concealed within the housing so as to be protected from moisture and not to detract from the appearance of the package.

A further object is to provide the container with means for preventing the heads of the matches from accidentally engaging the striking surfaces and for holding them compactly until withdrawn.

Another object is to provide a means for limiting the sliding movement of the container when inserted into either end of the housing.

A still further object is to provide a structure which will permit the container to be inserted into either end of the housing and will cause a match to be ignited or struck when removed from the container.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing the preferred forms of the invention have been shown.

In said drawing Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through the match box.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2--2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the housing, the container being re-. moved.

Figure 4 is a similar view of the container.

Figure 5 is a section on line 55, Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the container.

Figure 7 is a section through a portion of a slightly modified form.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, I designates a container in the form of a box having an open top. This box is adapted to be filled with matches M and attached to or formed with one end of the box is a shield or apron 2 adapted to lie between the sides of the 50 container at the top thereof and to overlie the head ends of the matches. The free end portion of the tongue can be bent down as at 3 so as to press on the match sticks. Thus the entire shield serves as a protection for the heads of the matches while at the same time leaving the ends of the match sticks exposed through that end of the container not closed by the shield.

The housing 4 used for holding the container, is open at both ends so as to allow the container to be inserted into either end. In the structure shown in Figures 1 to 5 a striker in the form of a strip 5 of veneer, stiif paper or other material having a certain amount of resiliency, is attached at its center to the inner or bottom surface of the top of the housing as shown at 6 and'is bowed slightly so that the ends will tend to project into the top of the container. A narrow striking surface I is provided on the bottom portion of each end of strip 5 and extends transversely thereof.

When a container filled with matches M is inserted into either end of housing 4, the advancing end thereof from which shield 2 extends, will slide along the bottom of strip 5 so that the shield, which covers the heads of the matches, will protect them from the striking surfaces 1. When the container has been fully inserted one end will come against one end of strip 5, as shown at the right of Figure 1, so that its movement will be limited. This also prevents the box from being opened in the wrong direction. In other words the box can only be opened by pressing against the end where the heads of the matches are located.

After the box has been partly opened the uncoated ends of the match sticks will be exposed and the matches can be removed one at a time. During such withdrawal the heads will be drawn from under shield 2-3 and across the striking surface I where it will be ignited. (See Figure 4.) The heads of the matches remaining in the box will be protected by the shield 2 and its depending .portion 3.

Obviously the operation will be the same when the container is inserted into either end of its housing.

Instead of using the striker or strip 5, the striking surfaces can be provided directly on the bottom surface of the housing at each end. One of these has been shown at 8 on the housing 9 in Figure 7.

What is claimed is:

1. A match box including a housing open at both ends, an igniting material in the top portion of the housing at each end, a match container insertable into either end of the housing, and a shield carried by the container for covering the head ends of matches therein to protect the heads from contact with the igniting means during the relative movement or the container and housing, said shield being mounted to move within the container and having an end positioned for bearing upon the matches, and said housing being reversible relative to the container to bring either ignition means into position for contact with the head of a match being withdrawn.

2. A match box including a housing open at both ends, a striking member secured between its ends to an inner surface of the housing, an igniting material on each end portion of the member, a match container insertable into either end of the housing and movable at one end against the striking member so as to be limited thereby, and means on the container for shielding the heads of the contained matches from the igniting material during the relative movement of the housing and container.

3. A match box including a housing open at both ends, a striking member secured between its ends to an inner surface of the housing, an igniting material on each end portion of the member, a match container insertable into either end of the housing and movable at one end against the striking member so as to be limited thereby, and means on the container for shielding the heads of the contained matches from the igniting material during the relative movement of the housing and container, said means including a shield extending freely from one end of the container and having a free end bearing on the matches.

PAUL S. BIXLER. 

